LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 






UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 






AN ENGLISHMAN'S VIEW 



BATTLE 



BETWEEN THE 



ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 



AN ACCOUNT OP 



THE NAVAL ENGAGEMENT IN THE BRITISH CHANNEL, OH SUNDAY, JUNE 19th 
1864. PROM INFORMATION PERSONALLY OBTAINED IN THE TOWN 
OP CHERBOURG, AS WELL AS FROM THE OFFICERS AND 
CREW OF THE UNITED STATES* SLOOP-OF-WAR 
KEARSARGE, AND THE WOUNDED AND 
PRISONERS OF THE CONFED- 
ERATE PRIVATEER, 



FEEDEEICK MILXES EDGE. 




NEW YOEK: 

-A-HsrsoiLxr id. :f». niLNDoijP-ia:, 

No. 770 BROADWAY. 
1864. 



AN ENGLISHMAN'S VIEW 



BATTLE 



BETWEEN THE 



ALABAMA AND THE KEAESARGE. 



AN ACCOUNT OF 



THE NAVAL ENGAGEMENT IN THE BRITISH CHANNEL, ON SUNDAY, JUNE 19th 

> 
1864. FROM INFORMATION PERSONALLY OBTAINED IN THE TOWN 

OF CHERBOURG, AS WELL AS FROM THE; OFFICERS AND 
CREW OF THE UNITED STATES' SLOOP-OF-WAR 
KEARSARGE, AND THE WOUNDED AND 
PRISONERS OF THE CONFED- 
ERATE' PRIVATEER. 



BY , 



FKEDEKICK MILNES EDGE. 



<NEW YORK: 

^IKTSOlsr XD. IF". nA.NIDOIjPH:, 

No. 770 BROADWAY. 

1864. 



FS9? 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1864, 

By ANSON D. F. RANDOLPH, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern 
District of New York. 



X & ' * k 3 



EDWARD O. JENKINS, 

printer anti Stfreotgpcr, 
20 North William Street. 



%\h §Urtrir 



OP 

.A. MOST G-LOniOUS VICTORY 

GAINED IN THB CAUSE OP 

JUSTICE AND HUMANITY, 

is 
DEDICATED TO 

THAT NOBLE OFFSPRING OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE 

®&e Sanitarg ©ommfastoit of ifit ©rntefc JStatw, 

BT 

THEIR OBEDIENT SERVANT, 

THE AUTHOR. 

London, July 14, 1864. 



The writer of this pamphlet is an English gentleman of intelli- 
gence now residing in London, who has spent some time in this 
country, and is known and esteemed by many of our best citizens. 
He visited Cherbourg for the express purpose of making the inquiry 
and investigation, the results of which are embodied in the follow- 
ing pages, and generously devotes the pecuniary results of his copy- 
right to the funds of the Sanitary Commission. 



Cjje gJakma anfr tyt |teararp. 



The importance of the engagement between the 
United States Sloop-of-war, Kearsarge, and the Con- 
federate Privateer, Alabama, cannot be estimated by the 
size of the two vessels. The conflict off Cherbourg on 
Sunday, the 19th of June, was the first decisive engage- 
ment between shipping propelled by steam, and the first 
test of the merits of modern naval artillery. It was, 
moreover, a contest for superiority between the ordnance 
of Europe and America, whilst the result furnishes us 
with data wherefrom to estimate the relative advantages 
of rifled and smooth-bore cannon at short range. 

Perhaps no greater or more numerous misrepresenta- 
tions were ever made in regard to an engagement than 
in reference to the one in question. The first news of 
the conflict came to us enveloped in a mass of statements, 
the greater part of which, not to use an unparliamentary 
expression, was diametrically opposed to the truth ; and 
although several weeks have now elapsed since the 
Alabama followed her many defenceless victims to their 
watery grave, these misrepresentations obtain as much 
credence as ever. The victory of the Kearsarge was 
accounted for, 'and the defeat of the Alabama excused or 
palliated upon the following principal reasons : — 

(5) 



b THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 

1. The superior size and speed of the Kearsarge. 

2. The superiority of her armament. 

3. The chain-plating at her sides. 

5. The 2T eater number of her crew. 
° 

5. The unpreparedness of the Alabama. 

6. The assumed necessity of Captain Semmes' accept- 
ing the challenge sent him (as represented) by the com- 
mander of the Kearsarge. 

Besides these misstatements there have been others 
put forth, either in ignorance of the real facts of the 
case, or with a purposed intention of diminishing the 
merit of the victory by casting odium upon the Federals 
on the score of inhumanity. In the former category 
must be placed the remarks of the Times (June 21st) ; 
but it is just to state that the observations in question 
were made on receipt of the first news, and from informa- 
tion furnished probably by parties unconnected with the 
paper, and desirous of palliating the Alabama's defeat 
by any means in their power. We are informed in the 
article above referred to that the guns of the latter 
vessel "had been pointed for 2,000 yards, and the second 
shot went right through the Kearsarge," whereas no shot 
whatever went through as stated. Again, " the Kear- 
sarge fired about 100 (shot) chiefly 11 -in. shell," the fact 
being that not one-third of her projectiles were of that 
calibre. Further on we find — " The men (of the Alabama) 
were all true to the last ; they only- ceased firing when 
the water came to the muzzles of their guns." Such 
a declaration as this is laughable in the extreme ; the 



THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 7 

Alabama's guns were all on the spar-deck, like those of 
the Kearsarge ; and, to achieve what the Times 
represents, her men must have fought on until the hull 
of their vessel was two feet under water. The truth is 
— if the evidence of the prisoners saved by the Kear- 
sarge may be taken — Captain Semmes hauled down his 
flag immediately after being informed by his chief 
engineer that the water was putting out the fires ; and, 
within a few minutes, the water gained so rapidly on 
the vessel that her bow rose slowly in the air, and half 
her guns obtained a greater elevation than they had ever 
known previously. It is unfortunate to find such cheap- 
novel style of writing in a paper which at some future 
period may be referred to as an authoritative chronicler 
of events now transpiring. 

It would be too long a task to notice all the numerous 
misstatements of private individuals, and of the English 
and French press in reference to this action : the best 
mode is to give the facts as they occurred, leaving the 
public to judge by internal evidence on which side the 
truth exists. 

Within a few days of the fight, the writer of these 
pages crossed from London to Cherbourg for the purpose 
of obtaining by personal examination full and precise 
information in reference to the engagement. It would 
seem as though misrepresentation, if not positive false- 
hood, were inseparable from everything connected with 
the Alabama, for on reaching the French naval station he 
was positively assured by the people on shore that no- 



8 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 

body was permitted to board the Kearsarge. Preferring, 
however, to substantiate the truth of these allegations, 
from the officers of the vessel themselves, he hired a boat 
and sailed out to the sloop, receiving on his arrival an 
immediate and polite reception from Captain Winslow 
and his gallant subordinates. During the six days he 
remained at Cherbourg, he found the Kearsarge open to 
the inspection, above and below, of any and everybody 
who chose to visit her ; and he frequently heard 
surprise expressed by English and French visitors alike 
that representations on shore were so inconsonant with 
the truth of the case. 

I found the Kearsarge lying under the guns of the 
French ship-of-the-line " Napoleon," two cables' length 
from that vessel, and about a mile and a half from the 
harbour ; she had not moved from that anchorage since 
entering the port of Cherbourg, and no repairs whatever 
had been effected in her hull since the fight. I had thus 
full opportunity to examine the extent of her damage, 
and she certainly did not look at all like a vessel which 
had just been engaged in one of the hottest conflicts of 
modern times. 

SIZE OF THE TWO VESSELS. 

The Kearsarge, in size, is by no means the terrible 
craft represented by those who, for some reason or other, 
seek to detract from the honour of her victory ; she 
appeared to me a mere yacht in comparison with the 
shipping around her, and disappointed many of the 



THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 9 

visitors who came to see her. The relative proportions 
of the two antagonists were as follows : — 

Alabama. Keaesarge. 

Length over all - - 220 ft. 232 ft. 

of keel - - 210 " 198J " 
Beam ... 32 " 33 « 

Depth ... 17 « I6i " 

Horse power, 2 engines of 300 each 400 h. p. 



Tonnage - - - - 1,040 1,031 



The Alabama was a barque-rigged screw propeller, 
and the heaviness of her rig, and, above all, the greater 
size and height of her masts would give her the appear- 
ance of a much larger vessel than her antagonist. The 
masts of the latter are disproportionately low and small ; 
she has never carried more than top-sail yards, and 
depends for her speed upon her machinery alone. It is 
to be questioned whether the Alabama, with all her 
reputation for velocity, could, in her best trim, outsteam 
her rival. The log book of the Kearsarge, which I was 
courteously permitted to examine, frequently shows a 
speed of upwards of fourteen knots the hour, and her 
engineers state that her machinery was never in better 
working order than at the present time. I have not 
seen engines more compact in form, nor, apparently, in 
finer condition ; looking in every part as though they 
were fresh from the workshop, instead of being, as they, 
are, half through the third year of the cruise. 

*The Kearsarge has a four-bladed screw, diameter 12 ft 9-in. with a 
pitch of 20-ft, 

1* 



10 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 

Ships-of-war, however, whatever may be their tonnage, 
are nothing more than platforms for carrying artillery. 
The only mode by which to judge of the strength of the 
two vessels is in comparing their armaments ; and herein 
we find the equality of the antagonist as fully exemplified 
as in the respective proportions of their hulls and steam- 
power. The armaments of the Alabama and Kearsarge 
were are as follows : 

ARMAMENT OF THE ALABAMA. 

One 7-inch Blakely rifle. 

One 8-inch smooth-bore (68-pounder). 

Six 32-pounders. 

ARMAMENT OP THE KEARSARGE. 

Two 11-inch smooth-bore guns. 
One 30-pounder rifle. 
Four 32-pounders. 

It will therefore be seen that the Alabama had the 
advantage of the Kearsarge — at all events in the number 
of her guns ; whilst the weight of the latter's broadside 
was only some 20 per cent, greater than her own. This 
disparity, however, was more than made up by the 
greater rapidity of the Alabama's firing, and, above all, 
by the superiority of her artillerymen. The Times 
informs us that Capt. Semmes asserts, " he owes his best 
men to the training they received on board the ; Ex- 
cellent ;' " and trained gunners must naturally be 
superior to the volunteer gunners on board the Kearsarge. 



THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 11 

Each vessel fought all her guns, with the exception in 
either case of one 32-pounder, on the starboard side ; 
but the struggle was really decided by the two 11-inch 
Dahlgren smooth-bores of the Kearsarge against the 7- 
inch Blakely rifle and the heavy 68-pounder pivot of the 
Alabama. The Kearsarge certainly carried a small 30- 
pounder rifled Dahlgren in pivot on her forecastle, and 
this gun was fired several times before the rest were 
brought into play ; but the gun in question was never 
regarded as aught than a failure, and the Ordnance 
Department of the United States' Navy has given up its 
manufacture. 

THE CHAIN-PLATING OF THE KEARSARGE. 

Great stress has been laid upon the chain- plating of 
the Kearsarge, and it is assumed by interested parties 
that, but for this armour, the contest would have resulted 
differently. A pamphlet lately published in this city, 
entitled " The Career of the Alabama,"* makes the 
following statements : 

" The Federal Government had fitted out the Kear- 
sarge, a new vessel of great speed, iron-coated" <fec. (p. 23). 

" She," the Kearsarge, " appeared to be temporarily 
plated with iron chains." (p. 38.) (In the previous 
quotation, it would appear she had so been plated by 
the Federal Government : both statements are abso- 
lutely incorrect, as will shortly be seen.) 

" It was frequently observed that shot and shell struck 

* The Career of the Alabama, " JVb. 290," from July 26, 1862, to 
June 19, 1864. London: Dorrell and Son. 



12 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 

against the Kearsarge's side, and harmlessly rebounded, 
bursting outside, and doing no damage to the Federal 
crew." 

" Another advantage accruing from this was that it 
sank her very low in the water, so low in fact, that the 
heads of the men who were in the boats were on the 
level of the Kearsarge's deck." (p. 39.) 

" As before observed, the sides of the Kearsarge were 
trailed all over ivith chain cables" p. 41). 

The author of the pamphlet in question has judi- 
ciously refrained from giving his name. A greater 
number of more unblushing misrepresentations never 
were contained in an equal space. 

In his official report to the Confederate Envoy, Mr. 
Mason, Captain Semmes makes the following state- 
ments : 

" At the end of the engagement, it was discovered by 
those of our officers who went alongside the enemy's 
ship with the wounded, that her midship section on 
both sides was thoroughly iron-coated ; this having been 
done with chain constructed for the purpose, (!) placed 
perpendicularly from the rail to the water's edge, the 
whole covered over by a thin outer planking, which 
gave no indication of the armour beneath. This 
planking had been ripped off in every direction (!) by 
our shot and shell, the chain broken and indented in 
many places, and forced partly into the ship's side. 
She was most effectually guarded, however, in this 
section from penetration." 



THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 13 

" The enemy was heavier than myself, both in ship, 
battery, and crew, ( ! ) hut I did not know until the 
action was over that she was also iron-clad. 11 

" Those of our officers who went alongside the 
enemy's ship with our wounded." As soon as Captain 
Semmes reached the Deerhound, the yacht stearited off 
at full speed towards Southampton, and Semmes wrote 
his report of the fight either in England, or on board 
the English vessel. Probably the former, for he dates 
his communication to Mr. Mason — " Southampton, June 
21, 1864." How did he obtain intelligence from those 
of his officers " who went alongside the enemy's ship," 
and who would naturally be detained as prisoners of war ? 
It was impossible for anybody to reach Southampton 
in the time specified ; nevertheless he did obtain such 
information. One of his officers — George T. Fiillam, 
an Englishman unfortunately — came to the Kearsarge 
in a boat at the close of the action, representing the 
Alabama to be sinking, and that if the Kearsarge did 
not hasten to get out boats to save life, the crew must 
go down with her. Not a moment was to be lost, and 
he offered to go back to his own vessel to bring off 
prisoners, pledging his honour to return when the object 
was accomplished. After picking up several men strug- 
gling in the water, he steered directly for the Deer- 
hound, and on reaching her actually cast his boat adrift. 
It was subsequently picked up by the Kearsarge. 
Fullam's name appears amongst the list of " saved" by 
the Deerhound ; and he, with others of the Alabama's 



14 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 

officers who had received a similar permission from their 
captors, and had similarly broken their troth, of course 
gave the above information' to their veracious Captain. 

The chain-plating of the Kearsarge was decided upon 
in this wise. The vessel lay off Fayal towards the 
latter part of April, 1863, on the look out for a notorious 
' blockade-runner, named the " Juno." The Kearsarge 
being short of coal, and, fearing some attempts at 
opposition on the part of her prey, the first officer of 
the sloop, Lieutenant-commander James S. Thornton, 
suggested to Captain Winslow the advisability of hang- 
ing her two sheet-anchor cables over her sides, so as 
to protect her midship section. Mr. Thornton had 
served on board the flag-ship of Admiral Farragut, the 
" Hartford" when she and the rest .of the Federal fleet 
ran the forts of the Mississippi to reach New Orleans ; 
and he made the suggestion at Fayal through having 
seen the advantage gained by it on that occasion. I 
now copy the following extract from the log-book of 
the Kearsarge : 

"Horta Bay, Fatal {May 1st, 1863.) 

11 From 8 to Merid. Wind E.N.E. (F 2). Weather 
b. c. Strapped, loaded, and fused (5 sec. fuse) 13 
Xl-inch shell. Commenced armour plating ship, using 
sheet chain. Weighed kedge anchor. 

(Signed) E. M. Stoddard, Acting Master''' 

This operation of chain-armouring took three days, 
and was effected without assistance from the shore and 
at an expense of material of seventy-five dollars (XI 5). 



THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 15 

Iii order to make the addition less unsightly, the chains 
were boxed over with f-inch deal boards, forming a case, 
or box, which stood out at right angles from the vessel's 
sides. This box would naturally excite curiosity in 
every port where the Kearsarge touched, and no mys- 
tery was made as to what the boarding covered. 
Captain Semmes was perfectly cognizant of the entire 
affair, notwithstanding his shameless assertion of igno- 
rance ; for he spoke about it to his officers and crew 
several days prior to the 19th of June, declaring that 
the chains were only attached together with rope-yarns, 
and would drop into the water when struck with the 
first shot. I was so informed by his own wounded men 
lying in the naval hospital at Cherbourg. Whatever 
might be the value for defence of this chain-plating, it 
was only struck once during the engagement, so far as 
I could discover by a long and close inspection. Some 
of the officers of the Kearsarge asserted to me that it 
was struck twice, whilst others deny that declaration : 
in one spot, however, a 32-pounder shot broke in the 
deal covering and smashed a single link, two-thirds of 
which fell into the water. The remainder is in my 
possession, and proves to be of the ordinary 5i-inch 
chain. Had the cable been struck by the rifled 120- 
pounder instead of by a 32, the result might have been 
different ; but in any case the damage would have 
amounted to nothing serious, for the vessel's side was , 
hit five feet above the water-line and nowhere in the 
vicinity of the boilers or machinery. Captain Semmes 



16 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 

evidently regarded this protection of the chains as little 
worth, for he might have adopted the same plan before 
engagiDg the Kearsarge ; but he confined himself to 
taking on board 150 tons of coal as a protection to his 
boilers, which, in addition to the 200 tons already in his 
bonkers, would bring him pretty low in the water. The 
Kearsarge, on the contrary, was deficient in her coal, 
and she took what was necessary on board during my 
stay at Cherbourg. 

The quantity of chain used on each side of the vessel 
in this much-talked-of armouring is only 120 fathoms, 
and it covers a space amidships of 49 ft. 6 in. in length, 
by 6 ft. 2 in. in depth.* The chain, which is single, not 
double, was and is stopped to eye-bolts with rope-yarn 
and by iron dogs.f Is it reasonable to suppose that this 
plating of l T Vinch iron (the thickness of the links of the 
chain) could offer any serious resistance to the heavy 
68-pounder and the 7 in. Blakely rifle of the Alabama — 
at the comparatively close range of 700 yards ? What 
then becomes of the mistaken remark of the Times that 
the Kearsarge was " provided, as it turned out, with 
some special contrivances for protection," or Semmes' 
declaration that she was " iron-clad ?" " The Career of 
the Alabama," in referring to this chain-plating, says — 
" Another advantage accruing from this was that it sank 

* Captain Winslow, in Iris first hurried report of the engagement, 
put the space covered at 20 or 25 feet, believing this to be rather over 
than under the mark. The above, however, is the exact measurement. 

f There was nothing whatever between the chain and the ship's 
sides. 



THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 17 

her very low in the water, so low in fact, that the heads 
of the men who were in the boats were on the level 
of the Kearsarge's deck." It is simply ridiculous to 
suppose that the weight of 240 fathoms of chain could 
have any such effect upon a vessel oT one thousand tons 
burden ; whilst, in addition, the cable itself was part 
of the ordinary equipment of the ship. Further, the 
supply of coal on board the Kearsarge at the time of 
action was only 120 tons, while the Alabama had 350 
tons on board. 

The objection that the Alabama was short-handed 
does not appear to be borne out by the facts of the 
case ; while, on the other hand, a greater number of 
men than were necessary to work the guns and ship 
would be more of a detriment than a benefit to the 
Kearsarge. The latter vessel had 22 officers on board, 
and 140 men : the Alabama is represented to have had 
only 120 in her crew, (Mr. Mason's statement,) but 
if her officers be included in this number, the assertion 
is obviously incorrect, for the Kearsarge saved 67," the 
Deerhoimd 41, and the French pilot-boats 12, and this, 
without mentioning the 13 accounted for as killed and 
wounded, t and others who went down with the ship. 
When the Alabama arrived at Cherbourg, her officers 
and crew numbered 149. This information was given 
by captains of American vessels who were held as 
prisoners on board the privateer after the destruction 
of their ships ; and their information is indorsed by the 

* Including three dead. f See page 41. 



18 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 

captured officers of the Alabama now on board the Kear- 
sarge. It is known also that many persons tried to get 
on board the Alabama while she lay in Cherbourg ; but 
this the police prevented as far as lay in their power. 
If Captain Semmes' representation were correct in re- 
gard to his being short-handed, he certainly ought not 
to be trusted with the command of a vessel again, how- 
ever much he may be esteemed by some parties for his 
Quixotism in challenging an antagonist — to use his own 
words — " heavier than myself both in ship, battery, and 
crew." 

The asserted unpreparedness of the Alabama is about 
as truthful as the other representations, if we may take 
Captain Semmes' report, and certain facts, in rebutting 
evidence. The Captain writes to Mr. Mason, " I cannot 
deny myself the pleasure of saying that Mr. Kell, my 
First Lieutenant, deserves great credit for the fine con- 
dition the ship was in when she went into action f but 
if Captain Semmes were right in the alleged want of 
preparation, he himself is alone to blame. He had 
ample time for protecting his vessel and crew in all 
possible manners ; he, not the Kearsarge was the aggres- 
sor ; and but for his forcing the fight, the Alabama 
might still be riding inside Cherbourg breakwater. 
Notwithstanding the horrible cause for which he is 
struggling, and the atrocious depredations he has com- 
mitted upon helpless merchantmen, we can still admire 
the daring he evinced in sallying forth from a secure 
haven and gallantly attacking his opponent ; but when 



THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSAKGE. 19 

he professes ignorance of the character of his antag- 
onist, and unworthily attempts to disparage the victory 
of his foe, we forget all our first sympathies, and con- 
demn the moral nature of the man, as he has forced us 
to do his judgment. 

Nor must ifc be forgotten that the Kearsarge has 
had fewer opportunities for repairs than the Alabama, 
and that she has been cruising around in all seas for a 
much longer period than her antagonist* The Alabama, 
on the contrary, had lain for many days in Cherbourg, 
and she only steamed forth when her Captain supposed 
her to be in, at all events, as good a condition as the 
enemy. 

THE CHALLENGE. 

Finally, the challenge to fight was given by the 
Alabama to the Kearsarge, not by the Kearsarge to the 
Alabama. "The Career of the Alabama," above re- 
ferred to makes the following romantic statement : 

" When he (Semmes) was challenged by the com- 
mander of the Kearsarge, everybody in Cherbourg, it 
appears, said it would be disgraceful if he refused the 
challenge, and this, coupled with his belief that the 
Kearsarge was not so strong as she really proved to be, 
made him agree to fight." (p. 41.) 

On the Tuesday after the battle, and before leaving 
London for Cherbourg, I was shown a telegram by a 
member of the House of Commons, forwarded to him 

* The Kearsarge started on her present cruise the 4th of February, 
1862 ; the Alabama left the Mersey at the end of July following. 



20 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 

that morning. The telegram was addressed to one of 
the gentleman's constituents by his son, a sailor on board 
the Alabama, and was dated " C. S. S. Alabama, Cher- 
bourg, June 14th," the sender stating that they were 
about to engage the Kearsarge on the morrow, or next 
day. I have not a copy of this telegram, but "The 
Career of the Alabama" gives a letter to the like 
effect from the surgeon of the privateer, addressed to a 
gentleman of this city. The letter reads as follows : 

** Cherbourg, June 14, 1864. 
Dear Travers — Here we are. I send this by a 
gentleman coming to London. An enemy is outside. 
If she only stays long enough, we go out and fight he % r. 
If I live, expect to see me in London shortly. If I die, 
give my best love to all who know me. If Monsieur 
A. de Caillet should call on you, please show him every 
attention. 

" I remain, dear Travers, ever yours, 

" D. H. Llewellyn. " 

There were two brave gentlemen on board the Alaba- 
ma — poor Llewellyn, Avho nobly refused to save his own 
life, by leaving his wounded, and a young Lieutenant, 
Mr. Joseph Wilson, who honourably delivered up his 
sword on the deck of the Kearsarge, when the other 
officers threw theirs into the water. 

The most unanswerable proof of Captain Semmeg 
having challenged the commander of the Kearsarge is 
to be found in the following letter addressed by him to 



THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 21 

the Confederate consul, or agent, at Cherbourg. After 
the publication of this document, it is to be hoped we 
shall hear no more of Captain Winslow's having com- 
mitted such a breach of discipline and etiquette as that 
of challenging a rebel against his Government. 



"C. S. S. Alabama, 
" Cherbourg, June 14, 1864. 
" To Ad. Bonfils, Cherbourg : 

"Sir — I hear that you were informed by the U. S. 
Consul, that the Kearsarge was to come to this port 
solely for the prisoners landed by me* and that she was 
to depart in twenty-four hours. I desire you to say to 
the U. S. Consul, that my intention is to fight the Kear- 
sarge as soon as I can make the necessary arrangements. 
I hope these will not detain me more than until to- 
morrow evening, or after the morrow morning at far- 
thest. I beg she will not depart before I am ready to 
go out. 

"I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your 
obedient servant, " R. Semmes, Captain" 

Numerous facts serve to prove that Captain Semmes 
had made every preparation to engage the Kearsarge, 
and that wide-spread publicity had been given to his 
intention. As soon as the arrival of the Federal vessel 
was known at Paris, an American gentleman of high 

* This information was incorrect. No such statement was ever made 
by the Consul of the United States at Cherbourg. F. M. E. 



22 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 

position came down to Cherbourg, with instructions for 
Captain Winslow ; but so desirous were the French 
authorities to preserve a really honest neutrality, that 
permission was only granted to him to sail to her after 
his promise to return to shore immediately on the de- 
livery of his message. Once back in Cherbourg, and 
about to return to Paris, he was advised to remain over 
night, as the Alabama intended to fight the Kearsarge next 
day (Sunday). On Sunday morning, an excursion train 
arrived from the Capital, and the visitors were received at 
the terminus of the railway by the boatmen of the port, 
who offered them boats for the purpose of seeing a gen- 
uine naval battle ivhich was to take place during the day. 
Turning such a memorable occurrence to practical uses, 
Monsieur Rondin, a celebrated photographic artist on the 
Place oVArmes at Cherbourg, prepared the necessary 
chemicals, plates, and camera, and placed himself on the 
summit of the old church tower which the whilome 
denizens of Cherbourg had very properly built in happy 
juxtaposition with his establishment. I was only able 
to see the negative, but that was quite sufficient to show 
that the artist had obtained a very fine view indeed of 
the exciting contest. Five days, however, had elapsed 
since Captain Semmes sent his challenge to Captain 
Winslow through the Confederate agent, Monsieur Bon- 
fils ; surely time sufficient for him to make all the pre- 
parations which he considered necessary. Meanwhile 
the Kearsarge was cruising to and fro at sea, outside the 
breakwater. 



THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 23 

% 

The Kearsarge reached Cherbourg on the 14th, and 
her Captain only heard of Captain Semmes' intention to 
fight him on the following day. Five days, however, 
elapsed before the Alabama put in an appearance, and 
her exit from the harbour was heralded by the English 
yacht Deerhound. The officer on watch aboard the 
Kearsarge made out a three-masted vessel steaming from 
the» harbour, the movements of which were somewhat 
mysterious ; after remaining a short time only, this 
steamer, which subsequently proved to be the Deerhound, 
went back into port ; only returning to sea a few min- 
utes in advance of the Alabama, and the French iron- 
clad La Couronne. Mr. Lancaster, her owner, sends a 
copy of his log to the Times, the first two entries being 
as follows : 

"Sunday, June 19, 9 a. m. — Got up steam and pro- 
ceeded out of Cherbourg harbour. 

"10.30. — Observed the 'Alabama' steaming out of 
the harbour towards the Federal steamer ' Kearsarge.' "* 

Mr. Lancaster does not inform us why an English 

* The following is the copy of the log of the Kearsarge on the day 
in question : 

"June 19, 1864. " From 8 to Merid. 

" Moderate breeze from the Wd. weather b. c. At 10 o'clock, 
inspected crew at quarters. At 10.20, discovered the Alabama steam- 
ing out from the port of Cherbourg, accompanied by a French iron-clad 
steamer, and a fore-and-aft rigged steamer showing the white English 
ensign and a yacht flag. Beat to General Quarters, and cleared the 
ship for action. Steamed ahead standing off shore. At 10.50, being 
distant from the land about two leagues, altered our course and ap- 
proached the Alabama. At 10.57, the Alabama commenced the action 



24 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEAESAEGE. 

gentleman should choose a Sunday morning, of all days 
in the week, to cruise about at an early hour with ladies 
on board, nor does he supply the public with information 
as to the movements of the Deerhound during the hour 
and a half which elapsed between his exit from the har- 
bour and the appearance of the Alabama. The pre- 
ceding paragraph, however, supplies the omission. 

THE ENGAGEMENT. 

At length the Alabama made her appearance in 
company with the Couronne, the latter vessel conveying 
her outside the limit of French waters. Here let me 
pay a tribute to the careful neutrality of the French 
authorities. No sooner was the -limit of jurisdiction 
reached, than the Couronne put down her helm, and 
without any delay, steamed back into port, not even 
lingering outside the breakwater to witness the fight. 
Curiosity, if not worse, anchored the English vessel in 

•with her starboard broadside at 1,000 yards range. At 11, we returned 
her fire, and came fairly into action, which w r e continued until Merid., 
when observing signs of distress in the enemy, together with a cessation, 
of her fire, our fire was withheld. At 12.10, a boat with an officer from 
the Alabama came alongside and surrendered his vessel, with the in- 
formation that she was rapidly sinking, and a request for assistance. 
Sent the Launch and 2d Cutter, the other boats being disabled by the 
fire of the enemy. The English yacht before mentioned, coming within 
hail, was requested by the Captain (W.) to render assistance in saving 
the lives of the officers and crew of the surrendered vessel. At 2.24, 
the Alabama went down in forty fathoms of water, leaving most of the 
crew struggling in the water. Seventy persons were rescued by the 
boats, two pilot boats and the yacht also assisted. One pilot boat came 
alongside us, but the other returned to the port. The yacht steamed 
rapidly away to the Nd. without reporting the number of our prisoners 
she had picked up. (Signed) James S. Wheeler, Actg. Master." 



THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 25 

handy vicinity to the combatants. Her presence proved 
to be of much utility, for she picked up no less than 
fourteen of the Alabama's officers, and among them the 
redoubtable Semmes himself. 

So soon as the Alabama was made out, the Kearsarge 
immediately headed seaward and steamed off the coast, 
the object being to get a sufficient distance from the 
land so as to obviate any possible infringement of 
French jurisdiction ; and, secondly, that in case of the 
battle going against the Alabama, the latter could not 
retreat into port. When this was accomplished, the 
Kearsarge was turned shortly round and steered im- 
mediately for the Alabama, Captain Winslow desiring 
to get within close range, as his guns were shotted with 
five-seconds shell. The interval between the two vessels 
being reduced to a mile, or thereabouts, the Alabama 
sheered and discharged a broadside, nearly a raking 
fire, at the Kearsarge. More speed was given to the 
latter to shorten the distance, and a slight sheer to 
prevent raking. The Alabama fired a second broadside 
and part of a third while her antagonist was closing ; 
and at the expiration of ten or twelve minutes from the 
Alabama's opening shot, the Kearsarge discharged her 
first broadside. The action henceforward continued in a 
circle, the distance between the two vessels being about 
seven hundred yards ; this, at all events, is the opinion 
of the Federal commander and his officers, for their 
guns were sighted at that range, and their shell burst 
in and over the privateer. The speed of the two vessels 
2 



26 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 

during the engagement did not exceed eight knots the 
hour. 

At the expiration of one hour and two minutes from 
the first gun, the Alabama hauled down her colours and 
fired a lee gun (according to the statements of her offi- 
cers), in token of surrender. Captain Winslow could 
not, however, believe that the enemy had struck, as his 
own vessel .had received so little damage, and he could 
not regard his antagonist as much more injured than 
himself ; and it was only when a boat came off from the 
Alabama that her true condition was known. The 11- 
inch shell from the Kearsarge, thrown with jifteen 
pounds of powder at seven hundred yards range, had 
gone clean through the starboard side of the privateer, 
bursting in the port side and tearing great gaps in her 
timber and planking. This was plainly obvious when 
the Alabama settled by the stern and raised the fore- 
part of her hull high out of water. 

The Kearsarge was struck twenty-seven times during 
the .conflict, and fired in all one hundred and seventy- 
three (173) shots. These were as follows : 

SHOTS FIRED BY THE KEARSARGE. 

Two 11-inch guns ... 55 shots. 

Rifle in forecastle . . . 48 " 

Broadside 32-pdrs. . . . 60 " 

12-pdr. boat howitzer . *. 10 " 



Total, 173 shots. 

The last-named gun performed no part whatever in 
sinking the Alabama, and was only used in the action to 



THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 27 

create laughter among the sailors. Two old quarter- 
masters, the two Dromios of the Kearsarge, were put in 
charge of this gun, with instructions to fire when they 
received the order. But the two old salts, little relish- 
ing the idea of having nothing to do while their mess- 
mates were so actively engaged, commenced peppering 
away with their pea-shooter of a piece, alternating their 
discharges with vituperation of each other. This low- 
comedy by-play amused the ship's company, and the 
officers good-humoredly allowed the farce to continue 
until the single box of ammunition was exhausted. 

DAMAGE TO THE KEARSARGE. 

The Kearsarge was struck as follows : 

One shot through starboard quarter, taking a slanting 
direction aft, and lodging in the rudder post. 
This shot was from the Blakely rifle. 

One shot, carrying away starboard life-buoy. 

Three 32-pounder shots through port bulwarks, for- 
ward of mizzen-mast. 

A shell, exploding after end of pivot port. 

A shell, exploding after end of chain-plating. 

A 68-lb. shell, passing through*starboard bulwarks be- 
low main rigging, wounding three men — the only 
casualties amongst the crew during the engagement. 

A Blakely-rifle shell, passing through the engine-room 
sky-light, and dropping harmlessly in the water 
beyond the vessel. 

Two shots below plank-sheer, abreast of boiler hatch. 



28 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 

One forward pivot port plank sheer. 

One forward foremast-rigging. 

A shot striking Launch's toping-lift. 

A rifle-shell, passing through funnel, bursting without 
damage inside. 

One, starboard forward main-shroud. 

One, starboard after-shroud main-topmast rigging. 

One, main topsail tye. 

One, main topsail outhaul. 

One, main topsail runner. 

Two, through port-quarter boat. 

One, through spanker (furled). 

One, starboard forward shroud, mizzen rigging. 

One, starboard mizzen-topmast backstay. 

One, through mizzen peak-signal halyards, which cut 

) the stops when the battle was nearly over, and 

for the first time let loose the flag to the breeze. 

This list of damages received by the Kearsarge proves 
the exceedingly bad fire of the Alabama, notwithstanding 
the numbers of men on board the latter belonging to 
our " Naval Reserve," and the trained hands from the 
gunnery ship " Excellent." I was informed by some of 
the paroled prisoners o% shore at Cherbourg that Captain 
Semmes fired rapidly at the commencement of the action 
" in order to frighten the Yankees/' nearly all the offi- 
cers and crew being, as he was well aware, merely vol- 
unteers from the merchant service.* At the expiration 

* According to the statement of prisoners captured, the Alabama 
fired no less than three hundred and seventy times (shot and shell); 
more than twice the number of the Kearsargo. 

5 



THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 29 

of twenty minutes after the Kearsarge discharged the 
first broadside, continuing the battle in a leisurely, cool 
manner, Semmes remarked : " Confound" them ; they've 
been fighting twenty minutes, and they're as cool as 
posts." The probabilities are that the crew of the 
Federal vessel had learnt not to regard as dangerous 
the rapid and hap-hazard practice of the Alabama. 

From the time of her first reaching Cherbourg until 
she finally quitted the port, the Kearsarge never received 
the slightest assistance from shore, with the exception 
of that rendered by a boiler maker in patching up her 
funnel. Every other repair was completed by her own 
hands, and she might have- crossed the Atlantic immedi- 
ately after the action without difficulty. So much for 
Mr. Lancaster's statement that " the Kearsarge was ap- 
parently much disabled." 



The first accounts received of the action led us to 
suppose that Captain Semmes' intention was to lay his 
vessel alongside the enemy, and to carry her by board- 
ing. Whether this information came from the Captain 
himself or was made out of " whole cloth " by some of 
his admirers, the idea of boarding a vessel under steam 
— unless her engines, or screw, or rudder be disabled — 
is manifestly ridiculous. The days of boarding are gone 
by, except under the contingencies above stated ; and 
any such attempt on the part of the Alabama would 
have been attended with disastrous results to herself and 



30 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSAEGE. 

crew. To have boarded the Kearsarge, Semmes must 
have possessed greater speed to enable him to run along- 
side her ; and the moment the pursuer came near her 
victim, the latter would shut off steam, drop astern in a 
second of time, sheer off, discharge her whole broadside 
of grape and canister, and rake her antagonist from 
stern to stem. Our pro-southern sympathizers really 
ought not to make their protege appear ridiculous by 
ascribing to him such an egregious intention. 

NATIONALITY OF THE CREW OF THE KEARSARGE. 

It has frequently been asserted that the major portion 
of the Northern armies is composed of foreigners, and 
the same statement is made in reference to the crews of 
the American Navy. The report got abroad in Cher- 
bourg that the victory of the Kearsarge was due to her 
having taken on board a number of French gunners at 
Brest ; and an admiral of the French Navy asked me in 
perfectly good faith whether it were not the fact. It 
will not, therefore, be out of place to give the names and 
nationalities of the officers and crew on board the Kear- 
sarge during her action with the Alabama. 

OFFICERS OF THE TJ.S.S. KEARSARGE, Junk 19, 1864. 

NAMES. RANK. NATIVE OF 

John A. Winslow Captain North Carolina* 

James S. Thornton Lieut. Commander New Hampshire 

John M. Browne Surgeon " 

J. Adams Smith Paymaster Maine 

Wm. H. Cushman Chief Engineer Pennsylvania 

* Captain Winslow has long been a citizen of the State of Massachusetts. 



THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 



31 



NAMES. 


RANK. 


NATIVE OF 


James R. Wheeler 


Acting Master 


Massachusetts 


Eben. M. Stoddard 


« u 


Connecticut 


David H. Sumner 


U li 


Maine 


Wm. H. Badlam 


2d Asst. Engr. 


Massachusetts 


Fred. L. Miller 


3d " " 


u 


Sidney L. Smith 


u a a 


(C 


Henry McConnell 


a a u 


Pennsylvania 


Edward E. Preble 


Midshipman 


Maine 


Daniel B. Sargent 


Paymaster's Clerk 


u 


S. E. Hartwell 


Captain's Clerk 


Massachusetts 


Franklin A. Graham 


Gunner 


Pennsylvania 


James C. Walton 


Boatswain 


a 


Wm. H. Yeaton 


Acting Master's Mate 


United States 


Chas. H. Danforth 


u (i u 


Massachusetts 


Ezra Bartlett 


a a a 


New Hampshire 


George A. Tittle 


Surgeon's Steward 


United States 


Carsten B. De Witt 


Yeoman 


United States 



CREW OF THE U.S.S. KEARSARGE, June 19, 1864. 



NAMES. 


RATE. 


NATIVE OF 


Jason N. Watrus 


Master-at-arms 


United States 


Charles Jones 


Seaman 


u 


Daniel Charter 


Landsman 


K 


Edward Williams 


Officers' Steward 


u 


George Williams 


Landsman 


« 


Charles Butts 


Quartermaster 


a 


Charles Redding 


Landsman 


u 


James Wilson 


Coxswain 


a 


William Gowen (died) Ordinary seaman 


u 


James Saunders 


Quartermaster 


a 


John W. Dempsey 


Quarter-gunner 


u 


William D. Chapel 


Landsman 


a 


Thomas Perry 


B oats w ain's-m ate 


a 


John Barrow 


Ordinary seaman 


u 


William Bond 


Boatswain's-mate 


a 


James Haley 


Capt. of Fo'castle 


« 


Robert Strahn 


Capt. Top 


u 



32 



THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 



NAMES 


KATE. 


NATIVE OF 


Jas. 0. Stone 


1st class boy 


United States 


Jacob Barth 


Landsman 


it 


Jno. H. McCartney 


u 


(< 


Jas. F. Hayes 


(< 


« 


John Hayes 


.Coxswain 


a 


James Devine 


Landsman 


u 


George H. Russell 


Armourer 


u 


Patrick McKeever 


Landsman 


u 


Nathan Ives 


a 


u 


Dennis McCarty 


« 


u 


John Boyle 


Ordinary seaman 


a 


John C. Woodberry 


« 


u 


George E. Read 


Seaman 


t( 


James Morey 


Ordinary seaman 


u 


Benedict Drury 


Seaman 


u 


William Giles 


(< 


a 


Timothy Hurley 


Ship's Cook 


a 


Michael Conroy 


Ordinary seaman 


u 


Levi W. Nye 


Seaman 


u 


James H. Lee 


u 


a 


John E. Brady 


Ordinary seaman 


u 


Andrew J. Rowley 


Quarter-gunner 


« 


James Bradley 


Seaman 


a 


William Ellis 


Capt. Hold 


u 


Henry Cook 


" After-guard 


u 


Charles A. Read 


Seaman 


u 


Wm. S. Morgan 


u 


a 


Joshua E. Carey 


Sailmaker's mate 


it 


James Magee 


Ordinary seaman 


a 


Benjamin S. Davis 


Officers' Cook 


a 


John F. Bickford 


Coxswain 


a 


William Gurney 


Seaman 


u 


William Smith 


Quartermaster 


u 


Lawrence T. Crowley 


Ordinary seaman 


u 


Hugh McPherson 


Gunner's mate 


u 


Taran Phillips 


Ordinary seaman 


a 


Joachim Pease 


Seaman 


« 


Benj. H. Blaisdell 


1st Class Fireman 


<< 



THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 



33 



NAMES. 


KATE. 


NATIVE OF 


Joel B. Blaisdell 


1st Class Fireman 


United States 


Charles Fisher 


Officers' Cook 


« 


James Henson 


Landsman 


u 


Wm. M. Smith 


a 


u 


William Fisher 


u 


u 


George Bailey 


(i 


u 


Martin Hoyt 


u 


(C 


Mark G. Ham 


Carpenter's-mate 


a 


William H. Bastine 


Landsman 


u 


Leyman P. Spinney 


Coal-Heaver 


« 


George E. Smart 


2d Class Fireman 


a 


Charle A. Poole 


Coal-Heaver 


a 


Timothy Lynch 


a 


« 


Will. H. Donnally 


1st Class Fireman 


a 


Sylvanus P. Brackett 


Coal-Heaver 


(« 


John W. Sanborn 


. u 


a 


Adoniram Littlefield 


C( 


u 


John W. Young 


M *r 


u 


Will. Wainwright 


a 


a 


Jno. E. Orchon 


2d Class Fireman 


a 


Geo. W. Remick 


1st " " 


41 


Joel L. Sanborn 


u u u 


a 


Jere Young 


U U tl 


u 


William Smith 


u u u 


it 


Stephen Smith 


2d " " 


a 


John F. Stackpole 


u u tt • 


a 


William Stanley 


a a (( 


u 


Lyman II. Hartford 


a a a 


a 


True W. Priest 


1st " " 


u 


Joseph Dugan 


a a u 


u 


John F. Dugan 


Coal-Heaver 


u 


Jas. W. Sheffield 


2d Class Fireman 


u 


Chas. ,T. Young 


Orderly Sergeant 


(( 


Austin Quimley 


Corporal of Marines 


u 


Roscoe G. Dolley 


Private " " 


u 


Patrick Flood 


u a (( 


a 


Henry Hobson 


Corporal " " 


(t 


James Kerrigan 


Private " " 


14 



34 



THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 



NAMES. 


RATE. 


NATIVE OP 


John McAleen 


Private of Marines 


United States 


George A. Raymond 


u u u 


u 


James Tucker 


u u « 


a 


Isaac Thornton 


u u a 


u 


Wm, Y. Evans 


Nurse 


u 


Wm. B. Poole 


Quartermaster 


it 


F. J. Veannoh 


Capt. Afterguard 


» 


Charles Hill 


Landsman 


a 


Henry Jameson 


1st Class Fireman 


if 


John G. Batchelder 


Private of Marines 


u 


Jno. Dwyer. 


1st Class Fireman 


u 


Thomas Salmon 


2d " 


u 


Patrick 0. Conner 


u u u 


u 


Geo. H. Harrison 


Ordinary seaman 


u 


Geo. Andrew 


u a 


K 


Charles Moore 


Seaman 


U 


Geo. A. Whipple 


Ordinary seaman 


a 


Edward Wallace 


Seaman 


u 


Thomas Marsh 


Coal-Heaver 


u 


Thomas Buckley 


Ordinary seaman 


u 


Edward Wilt 


Capt. Top 


u 


George H. Kinne 


Ordinary seaman 


({ 


Augustus Johnson 


Seaman 


(( 


Jeremiah Horrigan 


a 


u 


Wm. O'Halloran 


« 


u 


Wm. Turner 


<< 


it 


Joshua Collins 


Ordinary seaman 


a 


James McBeath 


u u 


(( 


John Pope 


Coal-Heaver 


u 


Charles Mattison 


Ordinary seaman 


u 


George Baker 


Seaman 


« 


Timothy G. Cauty 


u 


id 


John Shields 


it 


«( 


Thomas Alloway 


a 


(( 


Phillip Weeks 


(C 


u 


William Barnes 


Landsman 


u 


Wm. Alsdorf 


« 


Holland 


Clement Antoine 


Coal-Heaver 


Western Islands 



THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 



35 



NAMES. 


RANK. 


NATIVE OF 


Jose Dabney 


"Landsman 


Western Islands 


Benj. Button 


Coal-Heaver 


Malay " 


Jean Briset 


u 


France 


Vanburn Francois 


Landsman 


Holland 


Peter Ludy 


Seaman 


u 


George JSnglish 


a 


England 


Jonathan Brien 


Landsman 


u 


Manuel J. Gallardo 


2d Class Boy 


Spain 


John M. Sonius 


1st " " 


Holland 



It thus appears that out of one hundred and sixty- 
three (163) officers and crew of the sloop-of-war Kear- 
sarge, there are only eleven (11) persons foreign born. 

The following is the Surgeon's report of casualties 
amongst the crew of the Kearsarge during the action : 

"U. S. S. S. Kearsarge, 

" Cherbourg, France, 

" Afternoon, June 19, 1864. 

" Sir — I report the following casualties resulting 
from the engagement this morning with the steamer 
' Alabama.' 

John W. Dempsey, Quarter-gunner. Compound com- 
minuted fracture of right arm, lower third, and fore-arm. 
Arm amputated. 

William Gowen, Ordinary seaman. Compound frac- 
ture of left thigh and leg. Seriously wounded. 

James McBeath, Ordinary seaman. Compound frac- 
ture of left leg. Severely wounded. 

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

John M. Browne, 
" Captain John A. Winslow, Surgeon U. S. Navy. 

" Comd'g U. S. S. S. Kearsarge, Cherbourg." 



36 . THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 

All these men were wounded by the same shot, a 68- 
pounder, which passed through the "starboard bulwarks 
below main-rigging, narrowly escaping the after 11- 
inch pivot-gun. The fuses employed by the Alabama 
were villainously bad, several shells having lodged in' 
the Kearsarge without taking effect. Had the* 7-inch 
rifle shot exploded which entered the vessel at the star- 
board quarter, raising the deck by its concussion several 
inches and lodging in the rudder-post, the action might 
have lasted some time longer. It would not, however, 
have altered the result, for the casualty occurred towards 
the close of the conflict. During my visit, I witnessed 
the operation of cutting out a 32-pouncler shell (time 
fuse) from the rail close forward of the fore pivot 11-inch 
port ; the officer in charge of the piece informed me that 
the concussion actually raised the gun and carriage, and, 
had it exploded, many of the crew would have been 
injured by the fragments and splinters. 

Among the incidents of the fight, some of our papers 
relate that a 11-inch shell from the Kearsarge fell upon 
the deck of the Alabama, and was immediately taken 
up and thrown overboard. Probably no fight ever 
occurred in modern times in which somebody didn't 
pick up a live shell and throw it out of harm's way ; but 
we may be permitted to doubt in this case — 5-second 
fuses take effect somewhat rapidly ; the shot weighs 
considerably more than a hundred-weight, and is uncom- 
fortably difficult to lay hold of. Worse than all for the 
probabilities of the story, fifteen pounds of nowdpr— , 



THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 37 

never more nor less — were used to every shot fired from 
the 11-inch pivots, the Kearsarge only opening fire from 
them when within eight hundred yards of the Alabama. 
With 15 pounds of powder and fifteen degrees of eleva- 
tion, I have myself seen these 11-inch Dahlgrens throw 
three and a half miles ; and yet we are asked to credit 
that, with the same charge at less than half a mile, one 
of the shells fell upon the deck of the privateer. There 
are eleven marines in the crew of the Kearsarge : prob- 
ably the story was made for them. 

THE REPORTED FIRING UPON THE ALABAMA AFTER HER 
SURRENDER. 

Captain Semmes makes the following statement in his 
official report : 

"Although we were now but 400 yards from each 
other, the enemy fired upon me five times after my 
colours had been struck. It is charitable to suppose 
that a ship of war of a Christian nation could not have 
done this intentionally." 

A very nice appeal after the massacre of Fort Pillow, 
especially when coming from a man who has spent the 
previous two years of his life in destroying unresisting 
merchantmen. 

The Captain of the Kearsarge was never aware of 
the Alabama having struck until a boat put off from her 
to his own vessel. Prisoners subsequently stated that 
she had fired a lee-gun, but the fact was not known on 
board the Federal ship, nor that the colours were haul^i 



38 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 

down in token of surrender. A single fact will prove 
the humanity with which Captain Winslow conducted 
the fight. At the close of the action, his deck was found 
to be literally covered with grape and canister, ready 
for close quarters ; but he had never used a single 
charge of all this during the contest, although within 
capital range for employing it. 

THE FEELING AFTER THE BATTLE. 

The wounded of the two vessels were transferred 
shortly after the action to the Naval Hospital at Cher- 
bourg. I paid a visit to that establishment on the 
Sunday following the engagement, and found the sufferers 
lying in comfortable beds alongside each other in a long 
and admirably ventilated ward on the first floor. Poor 
Gowen, who died the following Tuesday, was in great 
pain, and already had the seal of death upon his face. 
James McBeath, a young fellow of apparently twenty 
years, with a compound fracture of the leg, chatted with 
much animation ; while Dempsey, the stump of his right 
arm laid on the pillow, was comfortably smoking a cigar, 
and laughing and talking with one of the Alabama crew, 
in the bed alongside him. The wounded men of the sunken 
privateer were unmistakably English in physiognomy, and 
I failed to discover any who were not countrymen of ours. 
I conversed with all of them, stating at the outset that I 
was an Englishman like themselves, and the information 
seemed to . open their hearts to me. They represented 
themselves as very comfortable at the hospital, that 



THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 39 

every thing they asked for was given to them, and that 
they were surprised at the kindness of the Kearsarge men 
who came to visit the establishment, when they were as- 
sured by their own officers before the action that foul 
treatment would only be shown them in the event of their 
capture. Condoling with one poor fellow who had his 
leg carried away by a shell, he remarked to me, " Ah, it 
serves me right ! they won't catch me fighting again with- 
out knowing what I'm fighting for.' 7 " That's me too,' 7 
said another poor Englishman alongside of him. 

The paroled prisoners (four officers) on shore at Cher- 
bourg, evinced no hostility whatever to their captors, 
but were always on the friendliest of terms with them. 
All alike frequented the same hotel in the town (curi- 
ously enough — "The Eagle,") played billiards at the 
same cafe, and bought their pipes, cigars, and tobacco 
from the same pretty little brunette on the Quai du 
Port. 

The following are the names of the officers and crew 
of the Alabama, saved by the Kearsarge : 

Francis L. Gait, of Virginia, Assistant Surgeon. 

Joseph Wilson, Third Lieutenant. 
* Miles J. Freeman, Engineer, Englishman. 

John W. Pundt, Third Assistant Engineer. 

Benjamin L. McCaskey, Boatswain. 

William Forrestall, Quartermaster, Englishman. 

Thomas Potter, Fireman, " 

Samuel Williams, " Welshman. 

Patrick Bradley, " Englishman. 



40 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 

John Orrigin, Fireman, Irishman. 

George Freemantle, Seaman, Englishman. 

Edgar Tripp, " " 

John Neil, 

Thomas Winter, Fireman, " 

Martin King, Seaman. 

Joseph Pearson, " " 

James Hicks, Capt. Hold, " 

R. Parkinson, Wardroom Steward, " 

John Emory, Seaman, " 

Thomas L. Parker, boy, " 

Peter Hughes, Capt. Top, " 

(All the above belonged to the Alabama when she 
first sailed from the Mersey, and* John Neil, John ' 
Emory, and Peter Hughes belong to the " Royal Naval 
Reserve.") 

Seamen. — William Clark, David Leggett, Samuel 
Henry, John Russell, John Smith, Henry McCoy, Ed- 
ward Bussell, James Ochure, John Casen, Henry Higgin, 
Frank Hammond, Michael Shields, David Thurston, 
George Peasey, Henry Yates. . 

Ordinary Seamen. — Henry Godsen, David Williams, 
Henry Hestlake, Thomas Watson, John Johnson, Match 
Maddock, Richard Evans, William Miller, George Cou- 
sey, Thomas Brandon. 

Coxswains. — William McKenzie, James Broderick, 
William Wilson. 

Edward Rawes, Master-at-Arms. 
Henry Tucker, Officers' Copk. 



Wounded. 



THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 41 

William Barnes, Quarter-gunner. 

Jacob Yerbor, Seaman, 

Robert Wright, Capt. M. Top, 

Wm. McGuire, Capt. F. Top, 

Wm. McGinley, Coxswain, 

John Benson, Coal-Heaver. 

James McGuire, • " 

Frank Currian, Fireman. 

Peter Laperty, " 

John Riley, 

Nicholas Adams, Landsman. 

James Clemens, Yeoman. 

James Wilson, Boy. 
These men, almost without exception, are subjects of 
Her Majesty the Queen. There were also three others, 
who died in the boats, names not known. 

The following are those reported to have been killed 
or drowned : 

David Herbert Llewellyn, Surgeon, Welshman. 

William Robinson, Carpenter. 

James King, Master-at-Arms, Savannah Pilot. 

Peter Duncan, Fireman, Englishman. 

Andrew Shillings, Scotchman. 

Charles Puist, Coal-passer, German. 

Frederick Johns, Purser's Steward, Englishman. 

Samuel Henry, Se*aman, " 

John Roberts, " Welshman. 

Peter Henry, " Irishman. 

George Appleby, Yeoman, Englishman. 



42 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 

A. G. Bartelli, Seaman, Portuguese. 

Henry Fisher, " Englishman. 

The above all belonged to the original crew of the 
Alabama. 

The Deerhound carried off, acording to her own ac- 
count, forty-one ; the names of the following are known : 

Raphael Semmes, Captain. 

John M. Kell, First Lieutenant. 

Arthur Sinclair, Jun., Second Lieutenant. 

R. K. Howell, Lieutenant of Marines. 
(This person is brother-in-law of Mr. Jefferson Davis.) 

W. H. Sinclair, Midshipman. 

J. S. Bullock, Acting Master. 

E. A. Maffit, Midshipman. 

E. M. Anderson, " 

M. O'Brien, Third Assistant Surgeon. 

George T. Fullam, Master's Mate, Englishman. 

James Evans, " 

Max Meulnier, " 

J. Schrader, " 

W. B. Smith, Captain's Clerk. 

J. 0. Cuddy, Gunner. 

J. G. Dent, Quartermaster. 

James McFadgen, Fireman, Englishman. 

Orran Duffy, Fireman, Irishman. 

W. Crawford, Englishman. 

Brent Johnson, Second Boat Mate, " 

William Nevins, " 

William Hearn, Seaman, 
ffhe last four belong to the " Royal Naval Reserve." 



THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 43 



MOVEMENTS OF THE ENGLISH YACHT DEERHOUND. 

That an English yacht, one belonging to the Koyal 
Yacht Squadron, and flying the White Ensign, too, 
during the conflict, should haye assisted the Confederate 
prisoners to escape after they had formally surrendered 
themselves, according to their own statement, by firing a 
lee-gun, striking their colours, hoisting a white flag, and 
sending a boat to the Kearsarge — some of which signals 
must have been witnessed from the deck of the Deerhound, 
is most humiliating to the national honour. The move- 
ments of the yacht early on Sunday morning were as 
before shown, most suspicious ; and had Captain Winslow 
followed the advice and reiterated requests of his officers 
when she steamed off, the Deerhound might now have been 
lying not far distant from the Alabama. Captain 
Winslow however, could not believe that a gentleman 
who was asked by himself " to save life" would use the 
opportunity to decamp with the officers and men who, 
according to their own act, were prisoners-of-war. 
There is high presumptive evidence that the Deerhound 
was at Cherbourg for the express purpose of rendering 
every assistance possible to the corsair ; and we may be 
permitted to doubt whether Mr. Lancaster, the friend of 
Mr. Laird, and a member of the Mersey Yacht Club, 
would have carried Captain Winslow and his officers to 
Southampton if the result of the struggle had been 
reversed, and the Alabama had sent the Kearsarge to 
the bottom. 



44 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 

The Deerhound reached Cherbourg on the 17th of 
June, and between that time and the night of the 18th, 
boats were observed from the shore passing frequently 
between her and the Alabama. It is reported that 
English gunners come over from England purposely to 
assist the privateer in the fight ; this I heard before 
leaving London, and the assertion was repeated to me 
again at Havre, Honfleur, Cherbourg, and Paris. If this 
be the fact, how did the men reach Cherbourg ? On the 
14th of June, Captain Semmes sends his challenge to the 
Kearsarge through Monsieur Bonfils, stating it to be his 
intention to fight her "as soon as I can make the 
necessary arrangements." Two full days elapse, during 
which he takes on board 150 tons additional of coal, and 
places for security in the Custom House the following 
valuables : 

38 kilo. 700 gr. of Gold coin, 

6 gr. of Jewelery and set Diamonds, 
2 Gold Watches. 

What then became of the pillage of a hundred 
merchantmen, the chronometers, etc., which the Times 
describes as the " spolia opima of a whole mercantile 
fleet ?' J Those could not be landed on French soil, and 
were not : did they go to the bottom with the ship her- 
self, or are they saved ? 

Captain Semmes' preparations are apparently completed 
on the 16th, but still he lingers behind the famous break- 
water, much to the surprise of his men. The Deerhound 
arrives at length, and the preparations are rapidly 



THE ALABAMA AND THE KE^RSARGE. 45 

k 

completed. How unfortunate that Mr. Lancaster did not 
favour the Times with a copy of his log-book from the 
12 th to the 19 th of June inclusive ! 

The record of the Deerhound is suggestive on the 
morning of that memorable Sunday. She steams out 
from behind the Cherbourg breakwater at an early hour, 
• — scouts hither and thither, apparently purposeless — 
runs back to her anchorage — precedes the Alabama to 
sea — is the solitary and close spectator of the fight whilst 
the Couronne has the delicacy to return to port, and 
finally — having picked up Semmes, thirteen of his officers 
and a few of his men — steams off at fullest speed to 
Southampton, leaving the "apparently much-disabled" 
Kearsarge (Mr. Lancaster's own words) to save two- 
thirds of the Alabama's drowning crew struggling in the 
water. 

An English gentleman's yacht playing tender to a 
corsair ! No one will ever believe that Deerhound to be 
thorough-bred. 

CONCLUSION. 

Such are the facts relating to the memorable action 
off Cherbourg on the 19th of June, 1864. The Alabama 
went down riddled through and through with shot ; and, 
as she sank beneath the green waves of the Channel, not 
a single cheer arose from the victors. The order was 
given, " Silence, boys," and in perfect silence this terror 
of American commerce plunged to her last resting place. 

There is but one key to the victory. The two vessels 



46 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 

were, as nearly as possible, equals in size, speed, armament 
and crew, and the contest was decided by the superiority 
of the 11-inch Dahlgren guns of the Kearsarge, over the 
Blakely rifle and the vaunted 68-pounder of the Ala- 
bama, in conjunction with the greater coolness and surer 
aim of the former's crew. The Kearsarge was not, as 
represented, specially armed and manned for destroying 
her foe ; but is in every respect similar to all the vessels 
of her class (third-rate) in the United States Navy. 
Moreover, the large majority of her officers are from the 
merchant service. 

The French at Cherbourg were by no means dilatory 
in recognizing the value of these Dahlgren guns. Officers 
of all grades, naval and military alike, crowded the ves- 
sel during her stay at their port ; and they were all eyes 
for the massive pivots and for nothing else. Guns, car- 
riages, even rammers and sponges, were carefully meas- 
ured ; and, if the pieces can be made in France, many 
months will not elapse before their muzzles will be grin- 
ning through the port-holes of French ships-of-war. 

We have no such gun in Europe as this 11-inch Dahl- 
gren, but it is considered behind the age in America. 
The 68-pounder is regarded by us as a heavy piece ; in 
the United States it is the minimum for large vessels ; 
whilst some ships, the " New Ironsides," " Niagara," 
" Vanderbilt," etc., carry the 11-inch in broadside. It is 
considered far too light, however, for the sea-going iron- 
clads, although throwing a solid shot of 160 pounds ; yet 
it has made a wonderful stir on both sides of the Chan- 



THE ALABAMA AND THE HEARS ARGE. 47 

nel. What, then, will be thought of the 15-inch gun, 
throwing a shot of 480 pounds, or of the 200-pound 
Parrot, with its range of five miles ? 

We are arming our ironclads with 9-inch smooth-bores 
and 100-pounder rifles, whilst the Americans are con- 
structing their armour-ships to resist the impact of 11 
and 15-inch shot. By next June, the United States will 
have in commission the following ironclads : 

Dunderberg, 5,090 tons, 

Dictator, 3,033 " 

Kalamazoo, 3,200 " 

Passaconaway, 3,200 " 

Puritan, . 3,265 " 

Quinsigamond, 3,200 " 

Roanoke, 3,435 " 

Shakamaxon, 3,200 " 

These, too, without counting six others of " second 
class," all alike armed with the tremendous 15-inch, and 
built to cross the Atlantic in any season. But it is not 
in ironclads alone that America is proving her energy ; 
first, second and third-rates, wooden built, are issuing 
constantly from trans-Atlantic yards, and the Navy of 
the United States now numbers no less than six hun- 
dred vessels and upwards, seventy-three of which are 
ironclads. 

This is, indeed, an immense fleet for one nation, but 
we may, at all events, rejoice that it will be used to de- 
fend — in the words of the wisest and noblest of English 
statesmen — " the democratic principle, or, if that term is 
offensive, popular sovereignty." 



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APPENDIX. 



iLETTER OF CAPTAlft JOHN A. WINSLOW. 

" U. S. S. S. ' Kearsarge,' Off Dover, 

July 13, 1864. 
"My Dear Sir — I have read the proof-sheet of your pam- 
phlet, entitled ' The Alabama and the Kearsarge. An Account 
of the Naval Engagement in the British Channel on Sunday, 
June 19, 1864.' I can fully endorse the pamphlet as giving a 
fair, unvarnished statement of all the facts both prior and subse- 
quent to the engagement. 

"With my best wishes, I remain, with feelings of obligation, 
very truly yours, John A. Winslow. 

" Fred'k M. Edge, Esq., 
" London." 




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